Improvement in bee-hives



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GRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C,

N. PETERS. PHOTO UTHO ,To all whom it may concern waited ginie/t @tutti @wie SOLOMON STEVENS, OF TERRE COUPEE, INDIANA.

\ Letters Patent No. 91,492, dated June 15, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Thefschedule referred to these Letters Patent: and making pan: of the same.

this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is -a perpendicular side sectional view of my device.

Figure 2 is a perpendicular front sectional view of the s ame..

Figure 3 is a bottomv sectional view thereof.

My invention relates to bee-hives; and

It consists mainly in providing means whereby robbers may be caught, and made to unite with the bees in the hive, and also in providing means for lessening the travel of bees while passing in or out of the hive, to and from their respective cells.

The letter A of the drawings is a box, in which I place a series of flames, marked b, placed upright, and separated by small nails orpins c. A

I also place a shelf', B, in said box, and adjust the honey'fboxes h thereon.

The frames b have, respectively, side, top, bottom,

-and centre-bars, the latter of which is lnarked's on the drawings. I

In order to aord means for the bees to reach their cells or make their exit therefrom,'without passing below the'comb, I make slots in these centre-bars,

`through which the bees may travel to any section of honey-comb they may'desire, or Yfrom any section to the front of the hive. These slots are marked u on the drawings. v

My device for capturing robber-bees is shown ou tig. 3.

The letter y is a button, pivoted as shown, and to which is attached a wire, o.

This device is operated as follows, namely:

I open the button, -so as to uncover the opening thereunder. When a proper number of robbers is believed to have entered, I close the opening by means 'of the wire, and the robbers are secure. A iight now ensues between the tenants and Ythe robbers. The latter are overcome,- and become incorporated with the laborers of the hive.

This. arrangement serves the purpose of enabling the robbers to elude the sentinels at the regular opening, and provides means for strengthening weak swarms by accessions from strong ones.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. 'lhe base, constructed as described, with an opening for. the admission oi' robbers, in the front, and a passage through; the bottom being closed wit-l1 aslide, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination and arrangement ot the base, constructed as described, with a bee-hive, having openings u. and chambers h, when constructed substantially as speciiied.

In testimony that I claim thc above, I have hereunto subscribed my name, in the presence of two wit- Guo. W. MATTHEWS, G. V. GLovnu. 

